An IMS bearing is what? On the flywheel end of the motor, the IMS bearing, which stands for “Intermediate Shaft,” supports the intermediate shaft (See here). The intermediate shaft’s main function is to use the crankshaft as an indirect drive for the camshafts.
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What signs of IMS bearing failure are there?
There are no early warning signals of IMS bearing failure, according to numerous articles we’ve read, and drivers won’t become aware of the issue until their Porsche has had catastrophic engine failure and they are left with a hefty repair expense.
There is a grain of truth to this because there might not be any outward signs of an issue developing while you are operating a vehicle. Well, not until you notice a loud rattle when you start the engine or accelerate; by then, the automobile has already sustained serious, expensive damage.
However, if you take good care of your Porsche, there may be possibilities to identify an IMS bearing issue early on.
Every time you replace the oil and filter, you may perform a quick and reliable inspection. Any metallic particles found in the used oil or oil filter almost probably came from the bearing’s balls, while any pieces of black plastic could have originated from the IMS bearing seal. Both of these are indications that the IMS bearing might be deteriorating, and you should have the car towed to a Porsche expert for a thorough examination and repair.
Because keeping to the suggested two-year plan on later cars will give you few opportunities to identify the early signs of IMS bearing failure, you might want to consider how frequently you change the oil in your Porsche. Since a Porsche is a sports car, it makes sense to drive it hard, therefore routine oil changes are still prudent.
The IMS bearing may not always be failing if there is an oil leak at the back of the engine. There are chances that the oil is leaking from the IMS flange seal, but the majority of leaks in this area are from the RMS (and can wait to be rectified if not creating oil deposits on the floor). Get it checked out by a Porsche expert to determine the exact nature of the issue and whether a repair is urgently needed.
When working on your automobile, the mechanics who maintain and repair your Porsche should also be on the lookout for any early signs. They might be able to link a seemingly unimportant vibration to the IMS bearing or discover a problem when they inspect the bearing, which can be done during a normal clutch repair work.
How to Determine If Your Porsche’s IMS Bearing Is Failing
IMS bearing failure is a problem that affects Porsche vehicles quite frequently. The intermediate shaft, which runs the length of the engine, is supported by the IMS bearing (also known as the intermediate shaft bearing). In most Porsches, the issue is not the actual intermediate shaft. The infamous engine issues that beset this antique automobile brand are caused by the IMS bearing.
The IMS bearing in your Porsche could break down from regular wear and tear. However, mechanical errors account for the majority of this feature’s failures. Due to their older designs, the Porsche models 986, 987, 996, and 997 are more vulnerable to IMS bearing failure.
Lack of lubrication causes the bearing to repeatedly overheat, which eventually leads to IMS bearing failure. The only real defense against this is to get your automobile serviced on a regular basis by qualified mechanics and to get an oil change every two years.
IMS bearing failure may not be completely preventable, but any mechanic with expertise in Porsches will be able to spot any little details that might point to this system malfunctioning. To avoid a complete failure, they will give you advice and make improvements while conducting inspections.
Porsches Experience Intermediate Shaft Bearing Failure
You may or may not be aware of IMS failure if you own a Porsche. With several Porsche models, this issue occurs frequently. Intermediate Shaft Bearing is known as IMS. It serves as the motor’s intermediate shaft’s supporting bearing. The IMS’s goal is to slow down the crankshaft’s chains so that they can run more sustainably. You might start to hear a knocking noise if the intermediate shaft bearing wears down, and if it completely fails, you’ll need to replace or rebuild your engine.
- 986 Models of Boxster
- Models of the 987 Cayman and Boxster up to engine #61504715
- 996 types (does not include GT or Turbo models)
- (up to engine #6950745) 997 3.6 ltr
Only one thing is certain. There is no going back once an IMS bearing failure has occurred. To replace the intermediate shaft, the engine must be completely disassembled, and in most situations, complete engine rebuilding or replacement is your only choice.
The intermediate shaft is damaged beyond repair in the event of an IMS failure, or more precisely when the ball-bearing or bearing support breaks. In addition, failure debris contaminates the entire engine, necessitating a total breakdown and rebuild to recover from such a failure. In the worst situation, the cam timing can also be incorrect, resulting in valve to piston contact and, in some cases, even catastrophic engine failure that necessitates replacement. The engine won’t be accepted as a core in that instance, necessitating the purchase of a new core or the payment of an ever-rising core charge in addition to the price of the replacement engine. In addition to replacing the IMS bearing in advance of such a failure, other proactive measures include early identification and prevention in an effort to reduce the likelihood of an expensive engine failure.
The factory intermediate shaft bearings have had their grease seals removed in an effort to improve their lubrication and cooling for years, as is the case with engines from model years 2006 through 2008. This is the only preventative measure that can be taken that is cost-effectively because the other choice is to completely disassemble the engine to gain access to the intermediate shaft, for which upgraded IMS bearings are available for install. In order to enable the use of the IMS Solution and Single Row Pro bearings on the latest IMS Shafts, LN additionally provides their MY06-08 adaptor bushings.
But with engines from model years 1997 to 2005, the bearing is in fact accessible. Any IMS bearing replacement is meant to be installed as a proactive step in routine maintenance and preventative care. The replacement of the intermediate shaft bearing is no longer an option once an engine has failed. Collateral damage, such as but not limited to debris contaminating the new bearing, will cause a further failure if a replacement IMS bearing is installed in an engine that has already experienced a failure.
Do Porsche Boxsters have problems with IMS bearings?
The intermediate shaft bearing, commonly known as an IMS bearing, has a significant failure rate in the Porsche 911 and Porsche Boxster from model years 1997 to 2005. Its build and design cause the bearing to prematurely fail, which causes a catastrophic engine failure.
What is the Porsche Boxster’s IMS?
If you had read the phrases “premature catastrophic engine failure” above, you would have wondered how a very small component could have the potential to instantly and seemingly without warning destroy an entire engine. We’ll briefly discuss what an IMS bearing is and how it works without getting too technical.
IMS stands for intermediate shaft, to start. The intermediate shaft, which goes through and exits from the front and back of the engine, is essentially a geared shaft. The purpose of the intermediate shaft is to employ those gears to indirectly drive the camshafts on either side of the engine by using the mechanical rotation of the engine’s crankshaft. But the 996 and 997 IMS-related “engine troubles” that are now well-known and notorious are not caused by the intermediate shaft itself. The then-radical and novel water-cooled “M96” engine created for the 996 was by no means a fresh development in terms of basic design or usage of an intermediate shaft. The horizontally opposed (sometimes known as a “boxer” arrangement) flat-six engines that are so famous for the Porsche 911 have really had an intermediate shaft for as long as the 911 has existed. The use of an intermediate shaft on Porsche’s flat-six engines had been well-proven up to this point in the long history of the 911’s development, both conceptually and practically. The problem (pun intended) with the introduction of the M96 and the initial production runs of the subsequently upgraded “M97” engines lies in the sealed cartridge-style ball bearings, sometimes known as the “IMS bearings,” that support the IMS.
When was the IMS bearing fixed by Porsche?
Between 1998 and 2012, Porsche produced just over 388,000 911 vehicles between the 996 and 997 model lines. Similar flat-six naturally aspirated engines were used in both the 996 and 997’s initial generation (engine codes M96.01-M96.05 and M97.01). Although it has excellent power and torque characteristics and a beautiful sound, the engine has certain drawbacks. The Intermediate Shaft (IMS) Bearing problem is perhaps the one that is best understood. It’s crucial to comprehend the IMS bearing’s function and operation completely before discussing replacement possibilities.
A steel shaft called the intermediate shaft passes through the heart of the engine. The cam chains are driven from a sprocket that is located on one end of the shaft. A pulley that powers auxiliary machinery is on the opposite end. The IMS shaft is located and supported by a housing, which also houses the end of the IMS that drives the cam chains. The issues start when the housing rotates on bearings for smoothness. In order to maintain low temperatures and guarantee smooth operation, these bearings self-lubricate. The effects of a failure are largely self-explanatory given the IMS sprocket’s significance in relation to camshaft timing. The oil in the IMS bearing housing leaks out or dries up, which leads to the bearings overheating and eventually failing. When they overheat, the bearings begin to fall apart and metal swarf enters the engine, harming it. Significant engine damage may result if debris blocks the passage. Sometimes the IMS bearing race completely fails, seriously harming the engine. Both options are undesirable. Porsche produced 911s, Boxsters, and Caymans between 1998 and 2007 model years that used the M96 and M97 engines.
From the 2007 model year onwards, Porsche improved the IMS and the IMS bearing design. Numerous aftermarket fixes exist for the Porsche engines installed between 1998 and 2006/07 to address the problem. Several of these solutions have been fitted and evaluated by us. So when should a Porsche’s IMS bearing be changed? From the perspective of an engineer, as soon as possible! There is a school of thought that says it should be okay since it has been around for 23 years. However, most people would say preventive is superior if you compare the costs of prevention and cure. Particularly considering the terrible ramifications of the IMS bearing failing, which might potentially cost more than PS10,000. Additionally, in very extreme cases, the engines may be irreparably destroyed, necessitating the procurement of a replacement. While replacing your clutch, the IMS bearing can be changed for very little additional labor expense. The cost of upgrading an IMS bearing at the same time as a clutch change is around PS600 + VAT. So, a cheap engine rebuild or a rather easy solution costing around PS2,000 for the clutch and IMS upgrade? Our specialists have been installing IMS upgrades for more than ten years, and we also have the specialized engine tooling needed to do the job correctly. There are several options for replacing IMS bearings, but the one we advise is a tried-and-true component that comes with a 5-year warranty and extra oil feed to get around the problems we’ve discussed above.